Filler neck

ABSTRACT

A filler head for a fuel filler pipe that includes a housing and a flow guide configured in one piece from metal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority 35 U.S.C. §119 to European Patent Publication No. EP 15183255.7 (filed on Sep. 1, 2015), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments relate to a filler head for a fuel filler pipe.

BACKGROUND

Fuel tanks are generally refuelled via a filler pipe which comprises a filler head, also called a filler neck, at its end facing a fuel nozzle during refuelling. Such filler heads are known per se and may also fulfil additional functions such as receiving a tank closure, the connection of a ventilation nipple for venting during refuelling or the integration of a flow guiding component, also called a “flow guide” or “securing casing” which during refuelling provides the fuel with a desired direction of flow.

Such filler heads or filler necks are disclosed, for example, in German Patent Publication No. DE 10 2006 056 974 A1 or German Patent Publication No. DE 198 50 904 C2. Filler heads may comprise, for example, a housing made of sheet metal or even made of plastics. Flow guides are configured from plastics, partially from conductive plastics in order to permit grounding via the flow guide. During operation, however, the contact of the flow guide with fuel results in the swelling of such a flow guide and thus to increased electrical resistance and poor grounding.

A known filler head for a fuel filler pipe is illustrated in FIG. 1. The filler head is assembled from a number of very different components. A flow guide 2 made of plastics is mounted in the housing 1 of the filler head. The flow guide conducts the fuel which is supplied by way of a fuel nozzle to a refuelling opening 10 of the filler head, to the right in FIG. 1, in the direction of a filler pipe or filler pipe connector 9 located at the opposing end of the filler head. A tank closure receiver 4, in particular a bayonet closure, is located on the refuelling opening 10 for receiving a tank closure. Fitted on the housing 1 of the filler head is additionally a bodywork holder 3 and a substantially cylindrical nipple receiver 5 with an inserted ventilation nipple 6 which is able to be connected to an active carbon filter via an active carbon filter connector 8. Annular seals 7 are arranged between the nipple receiver 5 and the ventilation nipple 6, for sealing.

In order to discharge possible electrostatic charges during refuelling, filler heads and the flow guides thereof are often grounded via costly ground conductors and ground connectors.

SUMMARY

In accordance with embodiments, a method for producing a filler head, and a filler head for a fuel filler pipe may be produced in a simple and cost-effective manner, in which a reliable grounding of the filler head is to be permitted.

In accordance with embodiments, a filler head for a fuel filler pipe comprising a housing of the filler head and a flow guide, wherein the flow guide and the housing are configured in one piece from metal.

In accordance with embodiments, a flow guide is produced in one piece with the housing of the filler head from metal. A grounding path is thereby provided in a very simple and reliable manner via the metal flow guide, without use of additional ground conductors for connecting the flow guide and housing and without the risk of reduced grounding during operation.

In accordance with embodiments, a method for producing such a filler head comprises producing at least the housing and flow guide in one piece from metal, and producing the filler head by precision casting or metal injection-moulding.

By the integration of the two components, e.g., the housing and flow guide, in a single metal component, the production is simpler and more cost-effective since the tool costs are reduced, the storage simplified and joining operations may be dispensed with. Additionally, the cost of maintaining predetermined tolerances is reduced and the emission values for hydrocarbons are reduced due to the absence of component interfaces. For these reasons, the functions of further generally separate components are preferably implemented in one piece by the metal filler head.

In accordance with embodiments, the filler head comprises a bodywork holder and the bodywork holder is also configured in one piece with the housing from metal. The bodywork holder serves for fastening the filler head to a body of a vehicle.

In accordance with embodiments, the filler head comprises a tank closure receiver, in particular a bayonet cap, for fastening a tank closure and the tank closure receiver and/or bayonet cap is also configured in one piece with the housing from metal.

In accordance with embodiments, the filler head comprises a nipple receiver and/or a ventilation nipple and the nipple receiver and/or the ventilation nipple is configured in one piece with the housing from metal. The filler head may be a precision-cast component or a metal injection-moulding component.

In accordance with embodiments, the housing may be composed of steel, particularly stainless steel. The housing may have a wall thickness of a maximum of 2 mm, or a maximum of 1 mm.

In accordance with embodiments, the filler head may also be produced by precision casting, by way of a fusible wax core, in particular by way of an injection-moulding core or a rapid prototyping core.

In accordance with embodiments, the filler head may be subsequently machined after the precision casting or metal injection-moulding.

DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description below.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a filler head from the related art.

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional sectional view of a filler head, in accordance with embodiments.

DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a filler head in accordance with embodiments is provided. The filler head is entirely configured in one piece and may be composed, for example, of steel. The filler head comprises a housing 1 and a flow guide 2 that collectively and substantially define or otherwise form a hollow cylindrical casing. The steel housing 1 may have a wall thickness of a maximum of 2 mm, or a maximum of 1 mm.

The filler head further comprises a tank closure receiver 4, in particular a bayonet closure, in the region of a refuelling opening 10, wherein the tank closure receiver 4 is also configured in one piece with the housing 1 from steel. The filler head comprises a ventilation nipple 6 comprising an filter connector 8 configured for, for example, an active carbon filter. The ventilation nipple 6 and also the active carbon filter connector 8 are also configured in one piece with the housing 1 from steel. The filler head may also comprise a bodywork holder (not illustrated) which is configured in one piece with the housing 1.

The entire filler head is a single precision-cast component or a single metal injection-moulding component.

The term “coupled” or “connected” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms “first,” “second, etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the preferred embodiments, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of embodiments is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. Aspects from the various embodiments described, as well as other known equivalents for each such aspects, may be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in the art to construct additional embodiments and techniques in accordance with principles of this application.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   -   1 Housing     -   2 Flow guide     -   3 Bodywork holder     -   4 Tank closure receiver     -   5 Nipple receiver     -   6 Ventilation nipple     -   7 Annular seal     -   8 Active carbon filter connector     -   9 Filler pipe connector     -   10 Refuelling opening 

What is claimed is:
 1. A filler head for a fuel filler pipe, the filler head comprising: a housing and a flow guide configured in one piece from metal.
 2. The filler head of claim 1, further comprising a bodywork holder configured in one piece with the housing from metal.
 3. The filler head of claim 1, further comprising a tank closure receiver configured in one piece with the housing from metal.
 4. The filler head of claim 1, further comprising a ventilation nipple configured in one piece with the housing from metal.
 5. The filler head of claim 1, wherein the filler head is a precision-cast component.
 6. The filler head of claim 1, wherein the filler head is a metal injection-moulding component
 7. The filler head of claim 1, wherein the housing is composed of of steel.
 8. The filler head of claim 7, wherein the housing is composed of stainless steel.
 9. The filler head of claim 1, wherein the housing has a wall thickness of a maximum of 2 mm.
 10. The filler head of claim 1, wherein the housing has a wall thickness of a maximum of 1 mm.
 11. A method for producing a filler head, the method comprising: producing a housing and a flow guide in one piece from metal.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein producing the housing and the flow guide comprises producing the housing and the flow guide by precision casting.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the housing and the flow guide are produced by precision casting by way of a fusible wax core.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the housing and the flow guide are produced by precision casting by way of an injection-moulding core.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the housing and the flow guide are produced by precision casting by way of a rapid prototyping core.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein producing the housing and the flow guide comprises producing the housing and the flow guide by metal injection-moulding.
 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising machining the filler head. 